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'We deserved something' - Rowettpublished at 13:15 10 August
13:15 10 August
Image source, Getty Images
Oxford boss Gary Rowett felt his side could have taken a point from the 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth - and did not blame Cameron Brannagan for his error that led to the only goal.
Midfielder Brannagan lost the ball in the build-up to Adrian Segecic's winner.
Rowett said: "It was one mistake and that was the main factor in the game.
"Other than that Portsmouth edged the game without creating a lot of moments, but one mistake gives them that little bit of impetus to hold on to, and they defended well.
"The last 20 minutes was exactly what you would hope - there was more of an edge to us and more quality, there were some great balls in the box and more shots.
"From that last 20 minutes I thought we deserved something from the game."
Pick of the stats: Oxford United v Portsmouthpublished at 14:06 8 August
14:06 8 August
After coming up together from League One in 2023-24, Oxford United and Portsmouth meet to begin their second season back in the Championship on Saturday (15:00 BST).
John Mousinho, who ended his playing career with a six-season stint at the Kassam Stadium, guided Pompey to a strong finish to their last campaign, eventually finishing 16th, one point and one place ahead of Gary Rowett's U's.
Oxford United are winless across their last seven league games against Portsmouth (D4 L3), since a 3-2 victory in February 2022.
After winning this exact fixture 2-0 last season, Portsmouth will be looking to win successive away league games against Oxford United for the first time since September 1981.
This will be the fourth time that Oxford have met Portsmouth on the opening day of a Football League campaign, winning each of their prior three meetings whilst scoring 3+ goals in 1987, 1993 and 2013.
Portsmouth have lost their opening league game in just one of the last 11 seasons (W4 D6), remaining unbeaten across their last five in succession (W1 D4).
Only Plymouth (12) earned fewer points away from home in the Championship last season than Portsmouth (14 – W3 D5 L15), with only Luton (16) losing more on the road than Pompey.
'Oxford may be undercooked against Portsmouth'published at 16:27 7 August
16:27 7 August
Jerome Sale BBC Radio Oxford's Oxford United commentator
Image source, Rex Features
When Oxford United started their first season back in the Championship, nine of their starting XI had played for them in the League One play-off final. There was some trepidation as the U's took on a division they'd been out of for a quarter of a century.
They may have surprised even themselves by how they eased to safety under Gary Rowett. When they kick off the new campaign this weekend, there's every chance at least eight of the starters will have proved themselves in the Championship with Oxford last season.
Those who didn't – summer signings Brodie Spencer and Brian De Keersmaecker and maybe defender Jack Currie, who is back from a stellar loan at Leyton Orient, all look ready to go at this level. They have a good team.
Yet there is a feeling that United may be a little undercooked going into the opener against Portsmouth.
A pre-season tour to Indonesia allowed them to make friends and gain influence there, but ate into the available time for the sort of intense fitness work that a Rowett summer usually entails. There have also been disruptive injuries which have impacted squad depth at a time when it should be at its best.
United arrived back in the county's consciousness last summer – they are THE story, although there is as much talk about the pending decision about a new stadium as there is about the new season.
The way for Oxford to succeed over the next nine months will be to somehow combine their underdog mentality of last year with a swagger that comes from knowing the Championship ropes. Can you have both? We are about to find out.
A year ago Oxford were at the bottom of most people's predicted final table, but finished 17th.
The Championship does look more competitive this year, but the average prediction I have seen this time around places the U's just above the relegation zone. Funnily enough, Oxford fans might be more comfortable if they had again been completely written off!
🎧 Are Oxford lacking squad depth?published at 11:14 31 July
11:14 31 July
Media caption,
The Dub: Latest episode
"You've got a great starting XI by recent standards for Oxford United but can these players who have had a truncated pre-season go 90 minutes and into stoppage time?"
The Dub team discuss how Oxford's pre-season has shaped up, how injuries may affect the squad and what's going on with the new stadium.
'Playing games too soon has a knock-on effect' - Rowettpublished at 11:55 30 July
11:55 30 July
Image source, Rex Features
Image caption,
Gary Rowett was appointed Oxford United boss in December
Oxford United's pre-season tour of Indonesia meant they were playing games too soon, according to boss Gary Rowett.
The U's played three games in Indonesia before heading back to England where they have featured in a further three first-team warm-ups this month.
That has led to a number of injuries which are giving concern to Rowett ahead of their opening Championship match at home to Portsmouth on 9 August.
"Ciaron Brown will be (out) a little longer as he's had a minor setback and Will Vaulks might be a week but it's not much good when the season is around the corner," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford after a 1-1 draw with Spanish side CD Leganes on Tuesday.
"Michal Helik and Shemmy (Przemyslaw Placheta) were unavailable for the game and Luke Harris will be out for a while with a swollen ankle and there's some damage in there.
"Having to play players because you've lost players in Indonesia because we're playing games too soon has a knock-on effect," added Rowett.
Image source, Getty Images
